Penn State returns all three of its leading rushers from a year ago, giving first-year Lions' running backs coach Charles Huff plenty to work with as spring practice sits on the horizon.

Huff and Lions' offensive coordinator John Donovan will face the same situation former Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien did a year ago: how to best use returning leading rusher Zach Zwinak, 800 and change yard back Bill Belton, and now redshirt sophomore Akeel Lynch, among others, in any given situation.

O'Brien frequently cited his preference to use the hot hand, so to speak, which more often than not shifted between Zwinak and Belton depending on performance. How Donovan will arrange his backfield will undoubtedly be determined throughout the spring and summer, but what is certain is that the new play caller has one of the most established back fields in the Big Ten.

Penn State isn't the only conference program returning capable backs, though, which leads to Wednesday's Big Ten question of the day: Does Penn State return the best conference back field in 2014?

It's a question surrounded by plenty of talent. Wisconsin featured a fierce duo a fall ago, as both James White and Melvin Gordon finished in the top five in conference rushing yards with 1,444 and 1,609, respectively. White has graduated, but sophomore Corey Clement, who averaged 8.2 yards a carry, should help head coach Gary Andersen's program not miss a beat in 2014.

Nebraska also has a case, as the Cornhuskers will again have the services of the Big Ten's top rusher in 2013, Ameer Abdullah, who will return his senior season after scampering for 1,690 yards and nine scores last year. Head coach Bo Pelini's team also lays claim to junior bruiser Imani Cross, who complemented Abduallah's speed to the tune of 447 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.

Another Big Ten West program, Iowa, returns all three of its backfield trio from a year ago, led by the conference's ninth best statistical back, Mark Weisman. He carried 227 times for 975 yards and eight touchdowns, joining Jordan Canzeri and Damon Bullock to form the Big Ten's sixth best rushing offense at 179 yards a game in 2013.

How does the rest of the Big Ten's tandem returners stack up to Zwinak, Belton, and Lynch, who rushed for a combined 2,150 yards and 18 touchdowns, in your mind? Sound off in the comments below.